Billing

Coronavirus Update

During the coronavirus outbreak, UCSF Health remains committed to improving lives. Our hearts go out to everyone directly affected by COVID-19 and the measures taken to contain it.

If you need help paying your medical bill, we’re here for you. Payment plans and financial assistance are still in place for people who can’t pay their balance in full. You have 24-hour access to your account on UCSF Health MyChart or the MyChart mobile app. We recommend using those online tools to view and pay bills.

To help ensure the health and safety of our workforce, most of our team will be working remotely as much as possible for as long as needed. You can reach us at (866) 433-4035 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), by email, or by sending a message to the billing team from MyChart. Thanks for your patience with minor service delays as we adapt to this challenge we face as a community.

If you don't have health insurance, you may be eligible for these COVID-19 laboratory tests* and prices pursuant to UCSF Health's self-pay discount policy:

Understanding Your Statement

As a patient of UCSF Medical Center or UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco, we submit a claim to your health insurance provider, including Medicare and Medi-Cal, and any secondary insurance before we bill you. If you owe a balance that was not covered by your insurance, or if you are a self-pay patient, you will receive a statement by mail.

UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco provide patients a consolidated statement (per guarantor) that includes liabilities for both hospital and professional services. Hospital services include room and board, fees for ancillary services such as diagnostic tests (e.g. x-rays, electrocardiograms (EKG), or laboratory) and pharmaceuticals. Professional services are those from the physicians who provided you care during your outpatient visit (e.g. primary care physician), hospital stay (e.g. surgeon, anesthesiologist, etc.) or from the physician who read and interpreted your test results (e.g. radiologist).

If you have a question regarding your statement, please call Patient Financial Services at (866) 433-4035. A sample statement is available here to help you better understand the look and content of your bill.

Payment Options

Payment is due within 30 days of billing. We accept personal checks and major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover).

Patients can pay a statement balance using one of the following options:

Health Insurance

If you have health insurance, our billing office will first bill your insurance carrier. If your insurance plan does not cover a service or procedure or does not cover the entire cost, you will be responsible for the non-covered fees.

If you have insurance coverage and wish to update your insurance information for billing, please contact Patient Financial Services immediately at (866) 433-4035. Most insurance companies have timely filing requirements.

Medicare

If you are covered by Medicare, we will submit your claims to Medicare on your behalf. After Medicare makes its payment, we will bill your supplemental or secondary insurance carrier for the remaining balance (as determined by Medicare). If you do not have supplemental or secondary insurance, you will be responsible for the remaining balance. Please refer to your EOMB (Explanation of Medicare Benefits) and/or your EOB (Explanation of Benefits) from your supplemental or secondary insurance for additional information.

Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program, a medical assistance program for low-income residents funded by the state and federal government. If you are covered under this program, please provide an eligibility card or other proof of eligibility for your month of service. Medi-Cal eligibility is determined on a month-to-month basis.

Self-Pay and Financial Assistance

If you do not have health insurance or if you are seeking care that is not covered by your insurance plan, you are considered a self-pay patient. All self-pay patients at UCSF are eligible for a discount. For additional information about our discount policy, please contact the Financial Counseling office at (415) 353-1966, or to request an out-of-pocket estimate for an upcoming service, please contact Financial Counseling's Patient Estimate Program at toll-free (844) 678-6831. Financial counselors are available to discuss your options and offer guidance in the financial planning of your medical care or services.

Self-pay patients may also qualify for financial assistance through eligibility for government programs or our charity care assistance. If you wish to seek financial assistance, please complete a financial assistance application. (Application instructions and application form available here.) Those with a family income at or below 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines (FPG) generally qualify for 100 percent assistance.

Family Size

100% Charity AssistanceIncome Level

1

$51,040

2

$68,960

3

$86,880

4

$104,800

5

$122,720

6

$140,640

Elective procedures require a deposit prior to service, unless the patient is eligible for financial assistance. If you need to make a deposit or arrange for a payment before an elective procedure, please contact Financial Counseling at (415) 353-1966. If you wish to make payment arrangements, or apply for financial assistance for an outstanding statement balance, please contact Patient Financial Services at (866) 433-4035.